Khoda and SS Das steal the day

Close of 1st day Central Zone 277 for 2 (Khoda 145*, Prakash 77, Bundela 44*) v West Zone
Scorecard

Gagan Khoda, the Rajasthan opener who was once discarded from the Indian team after scoring 89 in a one-day international - he averaged 57.5 in the two ODIs he played -, dominated the first day's play in the Duleep Trphy match between Central Zone and West Zone. Khoda made 145 not out as Central Zone, whom he captains, motored to 277 for 2 in the 91 overs that were played on the day.

Two fearsome Patels, Munaf and Rakesh, opened the bowling for West Zone, and Munaf struck early, removing Sanjay Bangar for 3 in the sixth over. But Khoda and R Prakash played with circumspection, adding 170 for the second wicket in 56 overs. After Prakash was out for 73, Devendra Bundela, anaother one-time India probable, made a patient 44. The unbeaten partnership between Khoda and Bundela was worth 91 at the close of play.

Close of 1st day East Zone 229 for 4 (SS Das 107*, A Das 55) v South Zone
Scorecard

SS Das kept East Zone afloat in their Duleep Trophy game at Dharmasala against South Zone, hitting an unbeaten 107 as his team ended the day on 229 for 4. On a day when Test discards Deep Dasgupta and Devang Gandhi, as well as India's newest ODI player, Rohan Gavaskar, failed, Das hung firm with a doughty century which will do his chances for a national team comeback plenty of good. Das's 107 came off 259 balls, and included 15 fours.

Das got good support from his namesake, Arindam Das, who scored 55 at No. 3, adding 111 runs in the process with his senior partner. But Arindam's dismissal sparked a mini-collapse, as Gavaskar and Gandhi, the captain, alos lost their wickets. Rajiv Kumar hung in there with an unbeaten 10, as the day ended with both sides having cause to cheer, and reason to worry.